The workout began with the typical warm-ups and ball handling drills to show off each players dribbling ability. Behind the backs, dribbling laterally, crossovers and more. This led into a series of shooting drills ranging in location and movement as well as distance; coming off curls, pulling-up off one dribble going left and right, adding a freeze fake, pulling-up from game speed at the free throw line, simulating pick and roll plays and more. There were initially a series of stationary shooting drills, with the players being fed spot-up shots from different spots. The three then progressed into more motion shooting drills consisting of step-backs, hard cuts, inside-out dribbles, hard drives left and right, curls and just about every other shot a quality NBA guard needs to possess. The final shooting drills consisted of multiple position shots from each baseline, catch and shoot college 3-pointers, changing speeds and exploding off the dribble, as well as some floaters and other to the basket finishes. The players then went into about half an hour of very competitive 3 on 3 games, with Jay Williams being matched up on Marcus Williams for a bulk of the action. Being able to watch these players workout for us in a 3 on 3 pick-up game is a luxury that NBA teams does not have during this period (a maximum of four players on the court are allowed in workouts), so this was really a treat for us, and a very telling one at that.
M. Williams Interview
Player Evaluations
Marcus Williams, 6-3, Junior, Point Guard, Connecticut
Jonathan Givony
Marcus Williams had himself an excellent workout and did it almost without breaking a sweat. In the drills he was the best shooter seen here from distance, and he even turned it up a notch in the shooting competition from the NBA 3-point line, knocking down 9 of his 11 shots from straight in front of the basket, best of anyone here. He looked good shooting while moving both left and right, looking smooth and effortless while doing so. In the spot-up baseline to baseline NCAA 3-point contest, he barely missed. His shooting mechanics are a bit on the slow and on the deliberate side, not the most efficient seen here in LA, but it goes in for him very effectively regardless, which is all that really matters. He gets better elevation on his shot when shooting from mid-range than he does from the NBA 3-point line, something that he might have to work on.
If the workout would have ended with the drills we would have come away thinking that Marcus Williams is a pretty good player, but thats about it. But thats when the 3 on 3 started
Williams showed off everything he did during his college career in the half an hour plus that the players went at it in this private workout, looking like every bit the top 10 pick that he was billed as coming in. His superb ball-handling skills were the first thing you noticed, utilizing outstanding footwork and phenomenal change of direction ability, using a series of hesitation moves, and getting by absolutely anyone that attempted to guard him, whenever he pleased. He plays the game at a tempo that is unique only to him, knowing exactly when to speed up and when to slow down, being able to keep the defense honest with a long-range bomb at any moment--even off the dribble--and being in complete control of his body and motions for every second he has the ball in his hands.
When penetrating to the hoop, he uses his strength extremely well to shield the ball with his body and finish strong at the hoop, either with a left-handed floater, an old school lay-up, or a short little pull-up in the lane that we certainly did not see enough of at UConn. His balance and footwork are outstanding and he always keeps himself extremely low to the ground with a playground handle, ready to fire off bullet passes at any moment and in any direction utilizing his massive hands. He goes left or right equally well and will surprise you with a no-look alley-oop lob or a sharp bounce pass to a cutter just as the play starts to develop, always placing the ball in perfect position for his teammate to catch and finish, regardless of the fact that he just started playing with most of the players here and should have no idea what their tendencies are or where they like the ball.
Williams looks like a savvy NBA veteran and plays like one too, showing an old mans game according to one of the people that trained him the most here, Dan Barto, and never looking rattled or out of control. The quiet confidence he shows in himself might be the most impressive thing we came away from, not quite being cocky, but just knowing that he is that good and not being in any rush to prove it beyond what hes willing to show you at his own pace. His feel for the game was evident throughout the workout, and this is the exact reason he will be able to fit in right away on almost any team in this years lottery and contribute heavily as a rookie, especially when you take his size, strength and experience into consideration.
Much has been made about Williams conditioning recently, or lack thereof rather, but this was not something that we would have even thought twice about when watching this workout had it not been brought up before. He probably isnt in the shape of his life, but is in no means fat or out of shape the way hes been portrayed to be. So much of his game relies on his strength and basketball IQ that hes been accustomed to not having to be in phenomenal shape, but this is something that will obviously change once he reaches the NBA. What is scary is how easily he gets by players in the shape he is currently in, making you wonder just how lethal he will be once he indeed reaches his full potential as an athlete. Williams told us he is 214 pounds at the moment, not the 220 that is being reported elsewhere.
The only real negative we could take away from this workout was his defense, which looked lackadaisical at best. He needs to become a bit quicker in getting his shot off, but there was absolutely nothing to complain about as far as the results are concerned. Once again, we came away thinking that there is very little doubt in our mind who the best point guard in the draft is. Its just a shame that NBA teams wont be able to see what we did in two on two private workouts, but thats what game footage is for, particularly from the NCAA tournament. The UConn vs. Kentucky game would be a great place to start.